Welcome to this week’s installment of From Our Friends, a weekly roundup where we highlight some of our favorite posts, published by our friends and partners around the web.

This week’s edition includes how coffee can improve eyesight, super simple ways to help save on water, science teaches us how to be happy, how whey protein helps rejuvenate after exercise, incorporating bugs into your diet, Coca-Cola’s improved recipe, how to make a dual flush toilet, and how to relieve sore muscles. Enjoy!

1. Ditch the reading glasses and pick up a cup of joe. Blisstree tells us how coffee might improve eyesight.

2. We don’t need to use a lot of water to get the most out of it. HooplaHa teaches us simple steps to save on water.

4. Exhausted after exercise? Whey is a great source of energy to incorporate into your fitness routine. Learn how The Organic Whey builds back better and improves workout recovery now! (Don’t forget, The Organic Whey now available via Amazon.ca too!)

]]>http://www.organicauthority.com/from-our-friends-may-09-2014/feed/07 Rules on How to be Happy without Anyone’s Helphttp://www.organicauthority.com/7-rules-on-how-to-be-happy-without-anyones-help/
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Back in the 1980s, Bobby McFerrin told us all, "Don't Worry. Be Happy.” But is it really that simple, Bobby? Turns out how to be happy might be easier than we thought. There has been quite a bit of research into happiness--what it is, how to be happy, and why it’s so elusive for some--that suggests that happiness actually just might be all in our heads. Still, it sounds easier said than done, right?

Back in the 1980s, Bobby McFerrin told us all, “Don’t Worry. Be Happy.” But is it really that simple, Bobby? Turns out how to be happy might be easier than we thought. There has been quite a bit of research into happiness–what it is, how to be happy, and why it’s so elusive for some–that suggests that happiness actually just might be all in our heads. Still, it sounds easier said than done, right?

For many of us, living in this fast-paced world of ours, happiness sometimes seems like an afterthought and that’s a shame, because happiness is one of those things that makes everything seem more worthwhile. Scientists studying happiness suggest that we are more in control of our happiness than we realize, and we can make a conscious choice to be happy. Unfortunately, we spend far too much time focusing on so many other things when we need to start focusing more on our happiness. It’s not magic, but it is something that can be practiced and cultivated. One way to do this is to make some changes in your life to help you focus more on being happy.

How to be happy without anyone’s help

1. Discover your special purpose or become active in a cause: Viktor Frankl, holocaust survivor and author of “Man’s Search for Meaning”, wrote that what man “needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.” Get involved with something larger than yourself to create happiness.

2. Reduce screen time: Spending hours in front of screens, both at work and at home, is less than ideal. We know screen time is bad for our children, why do we adults think we are different?

3. Get close to nature: Being in nature promotes peacefulness and being in the moment, which are two of the essential components of having happiness in your life.

4. Pick a challenging hobby/learn a new skill: Learning something new is exciting and helps to give you focus and purpose.

5. Don’t sweat the small stuff: Life is about more than who said what about you. Try to take the long view and keep yourself out of the weeds. It will make you happier.

6. Be in the moment: Mindfulness is a tenet of Buddhism. It’s hard to hold onto the baggage that makes us unhappy when we are truly in the moment.

7. Consume less: Humans are more than consumers. When we stop defining ourselves through our things and being overwhelmed by the volume of consumer choices we are bombarded with daily, it is easier for us to be happier with ourselves and the simpler things in life.

When I visited Sweden recently, I noticed that people just seemed content. Everyone was outside all the time. People just enjoyed the sunshine, walked along the water, exercised and picnicked. The general happiness I noticed could have simply been because I visited in late May, a beautiful spring month after a winter with few, if any, daylight hours. Even with the crazy lack of sunshine during the winter, Swedes are a happy people.

Sweden earned a slot as the second happiest country in the world, according to the Better Life Index, compiled by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The survey ranked more than 30 developed countries on criteria such as income levels, health, safety and housing—all of which can affect the number of happy people.

When I visited Sweden recently, I noticed that people just seemed content. Everyone was outside all the time. People just enjoyed the sunshine, walked along the water, exercised and picnicked. The general happiness I noticed could have simply been because I visited in late May, a beautiful spring month after a winter with few, if any, daylight hours. Even with the crazy lack of sunshine during the winter, Swedes are a happy people.

Sweden earned a slot as the second happiest country in the world, according to the Better Life Index, compiled by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The survey ranked more than 30 developed countries on criteria such as income levels, health, safety and housing—all of which can affect the number of happy people.

We all know you can’t really measure happiness. But if you tried to pinpoint why Swedes are such happy people, these five reasons are a good start. And they just might make you want to move to Sweden.

1. Sense of community

Swedes are a tight knit group. The OECD survey found that Sweden overall had a high sense of community with 92 percent of people believing that they know someone who they could rely on in a time of need. Swedish friendliness might even be able to beat out the famous Midwestern friendliness here in the U.S. I never had a bad experience in Sweden. Everyone in general was extremely friendly and always willing to help.

2. Culture of coffee

Swedes like their coffee breaks, and it might just make them happier too. There’s no real data behind this, but it makes sense. It’s not just about the coffee break. It’s about taking time to pause and enjoy life as happy people. Swedes like drinking coffee with friends so much that they created a word just for the act. Called fika, Swedes regularly stop throughout their busy weeks to visit with friends, family and coworkers over coffee and cake.

3. Love of nature

With only 9.3 million Swedes in almost 174,000 square miles, Sweden offers plenty of the great outdoors for Swedes to enjoy. And, that means a better quality of life and more happy people. The Right of Public Access or Allemansrätt in Sweden gives anyone the right to roam the countryside where they like. Swedes and tourists can hike, bike, fish, camp, swim, sail and just in general explore wherever they want—even private land. Many Swedes even own their own houses in the country, so they can get away and enjoy nature.

4. Shorter work week

It’s probably no surprise to you that long work hours may impair health, jeopardize safety and increase stress. Maybe that’s why Swedes in general have a better sense of wellbeing and seem to be happy people: They work fewer hours. People in Sweden receive a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation per year. Five weeks! That’s not to mention paid parental leave of up to 480 days between the two parents. People in Sweden work 1,644 hours a year, less than the OECD average of 1,776 hours. And, only about one percent of Swedes say they work very long hours, compared to the OECD average of nine percent. Unsurprisingly, Americans work more than the OECD average with 1,787 hours and 11 percent working long hours.

5. Living green

I may be a little biased with this one, but of course living green makes you happier, and Swedes know how to do it. From organic food to sustainable travel, Sweden is an eco-friendly country. You know that long morning commute spent sitting in your car on a highway that looks more like a parking lot? It doesn’t exactly make happy people, does it? In Sweden, many people don’t even need to own a car. The buses, trains and trams can get you pretty much anywhere, even the smaller towns. If that doesn’t work there’s also the ferries to get you around. Besides public transportation, Swedes also have a higher than average access to clean air and water, according to the OECD survey. The European Union even named Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, as its first European Green Capital, an award for cities that show a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards.

]]>http://www.organicauthority.com/health/5-reasons-sweden-is-full-happy-people.html/feed/0The One Thing You Have To Do When Traveling Anywherehttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/the-one-thing-you-have-to-do-when-traveling-anywhere.html
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I have the secret to the one thing you absolutely have to do when traveling anywhere. Can you guess what it is? No, it’s not taking a jumping photo by a major landmark. (I’m not dissing. I’ve done it.) It’s not buying cool souvenirs either. Or, trying a new food. It’s not making sure to get off the beaten path, although that’s a must too. When traveling, the one thing you absolutely have to do is…

I have the secret to the one thing you absolutely have to do when traveling anywhere. Can you guess what it is? No, it’s not finding cool souvenirs. Or, taking a photo of you jumping in the air by a major landmark. (I’m not dissing. I’ve done it a time or two.) It’s not trying a new food. And, it’s not making sure to get off the beaten path—although that’s a must too. When traveling, the one thing you absolutely have to do is…bring back a new way of doing something to your life at home.

A journey shouldn’t just be about going somewhere new; it’s equally important to bring back something new with you. A new custom. A new tradition. A new lifestyle. Traveling gives you a new way of seeing the everyday. You can’t help but encounter something different when you travel, and many of those eye-opening experiences can enhance your life back home.

On a recent backpacking trip to Sweden, I learned about the country’s cultural tradition of fika. The basic idea is that friends get together regularly to have coffee and a small treat, like cake or cookies. While the food is definitely a big part of the custom, it’s more about pausing during your day to enjoy time with friends. Coffee is definitely a regular part of my everyday life. (Probably too regular a part.) But, rarely do I just sit and enjoy a coffee with friends consistently. It’s more of a once-in-a-while-when-we-can-find-time kind of thing. Too often I’m going nonstop. The idea of taking time to just stop and savor a cup of coffee with friends is appealing and something I plan to do regularly now.

That’s not the only travel experience that made its way into my everyday life. When my sister returned from a study abroad trip to Costa Rica, she made me breakfast with scrambled eggs, rice, black beans and avocado. I would never have thought to combine those ingredients, and now it’s one of my favorite meals. Multiple trips to England made me enjoy the simple act of having a cuppa. Exploring Copenhagen reminded me to ride my bike more often. I love that so many of my favorite things came about because of my travels. And the memories they bring me every day really are the ultimate souvenirs.

But you have to be open to those new experiences, or you’ll miss them. It’s easy when traveling to scope out the elements that remind you of home and not try anything unfamiliar. I’m talking about going to Starbucks instead of a local coffee shop. (Please don’t say you hit up the McDonald’s either.) Or, it could mean not going to a new place because you’re afraid of the language barrier. When you embrace the differences of the new location you’re visiting, you’ll be more exposed to the experiences that will change your life.

Obviously you won’t want to recreate all of your travel experiences when you get home. Eating scorpions and peeing in a hole like I did in China come to mind. But with every journey, you will experience something different. And with every journey, there will be something so awesome that you’ll want to slip it into your everyday life at home.

Green spaces in cities are a key happiness booster, suggests a recent study published in the Journal of Psychological Science. Researchers came to this conclusion by analyzing data from a national survey that followed United Kingdom households for 17 years between 1991 and 2008. Among the more than 10,000 individuals surveyed, participants with more access to green space reported greater well-being and life satisfaction than those without access to parks and gardens. Even when controlling for other happiness factors, greener spaces were linked with lowered mental distress and improved life satisfaction.

Green spaces in cities are a key happiness booster, suggests a recent study published in the Journal of Psychological Science.Researchers came to this conclusion by analyzing data from a national survey that followed United Kingdom households for 17 years between 1991 and 2008. Among the more than 10,000 individuals surveyed, participants with more access to green space reported greater well-being and life satisfaction than those without access to parks and gardens. Even when controlling for other happiness factors, greener spaces were linked with lowered mental distress and improved life satisfaction.

What does this mean for your city? It means city planners worldwide may put more weight and more public funds behind green space improvement. “These kinds of comparisons are important for policymakers when trying to decide how to invest scarce public resources, e.g. for park development or upkeep, and figuring out what ‘bang’ they’ll get for their buck,” study researcher Dr. Mathew White of the University of Exeter Medical School said in a statement.

The assertion that green space is important for human happiness isn’t new. But the Exeter study is the first to rule out other causes for happiness differences. By comparing data over such a long period of time, Exeter was able to control other possibilities for causation. The study accounted for changes over time in participants’ income, employment, marital status, physical health and housing type. Green spaces still held up as a happiness booster. In fact, they accounted for about a tenth of the amount of happiness boost from employment versus joblessness. It’s even up there with major well-being events like marriage.

“We’ve found that living in an urban area with relatively high levels of green space can have a significantly positive impact on well-being, roughly equal to a third of the impact of being married,” Dr. White said.

Dr. White cautions that the study doesn’t conclusively prove green space is a happiness booster. The study does, however, bolster other studies’ findings about green space and happiness. An experimental study published in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology in 2010 showed that short periods of time in a green space can improve people’s mood and cognitive functioning.

By now, it's hard to deny that your diet affects more than your pants size -- it's also a major factor in your happiness and well-being. Too often, though, diet recommendations focus on the things you should not eat. Here at Organic Authority, we think it's more fun to talk about what you should eat (and enjoy)! So let's take a moment to review some of the best dietary mood boosters, courtesy of bestselling book, The Happiness Diet.

By now, it’s hard to deny that your diet affects more than your pants size — it’s also a major factor in your happiness and well-being. Too often, though, diet recommendations focus on the things you should not eat. Here at Organic Authority, we think it’s more fun to talk about what you should eat (and enjoy)! So let’s take a moment to review some of the best dietary mood boosters, courtesy of bestselling book The Happiness Diet.

1. Vitamin B12

It helps prevent disease, makes you sleep better and feel more balanced. Great sources for B12 are shellfish (pass the lobster!), fish, beef, liver and eggs. Vegans should eat plenty of nutritional yeast and B12-fortified products like soymilk.

4. Cholesterol

Surprise! Cholesterol, far from being the enemy of any healthy heart, is actually an important part of your brain’s ideal diet. Yes, you should avoid trans fats and LDL cholesterol. But HDL (the good kind) can strengthen your brain and help prevent it from the effects of age. So eat your eggs, salmon, meat, milk, cheese and even lard from sustainably raised, grass-fed animals!

5. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is the reason you love the sunlight! Our primary source for this essential vitamin is the sun, which our skin uses to convert cholesterol into D. It doesn’t just make you happy and relaxed, but also helps your body fight disease, depression, PMDD, cancer and the pesky old common cold. Aside from sunlight, get your D from fatty fish, butter and lard from pasture-raised animals, and mushrooms that have been exposed to the sun.

7. Fiber

Low fiber consumption has been linked to depression and suicide — not just because it reduces inflammation and helps you regulate your blood sugar, but because high-fiber foods also contain the other important happiness nutrients! Don’t just stir processed fiber into your water, though; eat real live plants to see fiber’s true benefit. Any plant will do, but the best are leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beans and fruit.

8. Folate

Folate is brain food! It makes you think more clearly and helps you avoid mood imbalance (aka depression). Great sources include spinach, kale, black beans, black-eyed peas and lentils.

9. Vitamin A

Eat your carrots, right? Wrong! In fact, the most viable source for Vitamin A is animal fat. A helps your body create neurotransmitters like dopamine, ultimately regulating your mood, memory and learning. The best foods for A are liver, egg yolks, shellfish, butter, and whole milk; vegans should eat a lot more carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and squash.

10. Omega-3s

These essential fatty acids strengthen your heart to keep you from, you know, dying. But they also help you form complex thoughts and stave off a huge variety of diseases. They’re used by every cell in your body. Eat more fatty fish like sardines, mackerel and salmon, free-range eggs, and grass-fed meat!

11. Vitamin E

Fun fact: Vitamin E is actually a collection of eight antioxidants that help protect the fats in your brain from free radicals, so your body can get the most use out of all that salmon you’re eating. Get plenty of vitamin E to help prevent depression, Alzheimer’s, cancer, inflammation and good old cognitive decline. The best foods are almonds, olives, beet greens, turnip greens, collard greens and Swiss chard.

12. Iron

Your body need iron to produce energy, and that’s especially important for your brain development. In fact, studies have shown that low iron makes teenagers perform worse on tests, and (more ominously) infants with low iron levels may have cognitive challenges later in life. And while you may have heard that leafy greens are the best source of iron, in fact your body gets more from shellfish, grass-fed beef, duck, dark chicken meat and liver.

When is the last time you felt joy? Even in our fast-paced world of traffic, hurricanes, taxes, random violence and cockroaches, joy is all around us. Just open your eyes and pay attention – look deeper into the world around you, and you will certainly find joy.

When is the last time you felt joy? Even in our fast-paced world of traffic, hurricanes, taxes, random violence and cockroaches, joy is all around us. Just open your eyes and pay attention – look deeper into the world around you, and you will certainly find joy.

Joy and its merry band of compatriots above often can seem hard to find in modern life. Many adults decide that contentment is an apt substitute for joy, paring down their emotional expectations into a lukewarm stew of “okay” or “everything’s fine.”

While being content in life has its positives for sure, contentedness is no substitute for joy. Joy belongs in the realm of creative flow and play; you know that you’re in a state of joy when time loses meaning, where worries cease to exist, and when thoughts of the past and future are flung away in favor of the rich and frothy RIGHT NOW.

Find joy here:

1. Children are a profound source of joy for many people on earth, and you don’t even need to have kids of your own to experience their power of delight. Borrow a friend’s children for an afternoon at the zoo, sign up to volunteer at a pre-school for a day or just head to a local amusement park to witness the bliss of true joy.

2. Dogs may appear to be animals, but they are actually fountains of pure joy covered in fur. Find a leaf, a ball of scrap paper or a good ol’ wooden stick and watch the elation in action.

3. Worship with others brings a new level to spirituality and infuses religion with community. Whether you like to sing, to pray or to meditate on truth, there is a worship service near you that offers joy on a weekly basis.

4. Nature speaks to the human soul like nothing else. When is the last time you stood in awe, mouth open, surrounded by epic nature? Experiencing joy through nature isn’t a seasonal treat – it is a human necessity. Head to a majestic mountain range, a never-ending desert or a beach with a horizon line that goes forever, and feel the joy of simple natural beauty wash over you.

5. Serving others creates a level of interior joy that many say cannot be matched. When you help people who cannot help themselves, you are living out the very meaning of being human. Sign up for volunteer work and at the end of the day, you’ll realize who the help really benefited.

6. Gratitude goes a long way. Everyone loves to be appreciated for the good things that they have done. Take the time to truly thank someone that has meant something to you, and feel the pure joy radiate out of their eyes and into your heart.

7. Music is not only the medicine – it is a purveyor of joy whose power cannot be matched. Whether you like funky jazz, hard-hitting dance music or Justin Bieber’s greatest hits, find the music that thrills your soul and rock out to pure joy.

So you’re inspired. You went on an amazing vacation, read an incredible book, met a stimulating new friend, or otherwise had some sort of new breakthrough in life that left you happy and in a metaphorical head spin. How do you infuse your daily life with your newfound inspiration? How do you keep that excited sense of purpose and delightful exuberance when confronted by the same old dishes to wash, bills to pay and laundry to be folded?

So you’re inspired. You went on an amazing vacation, read an incredible book, met a stimulating new friend, or otherwise had some sort of new breakthrough in life that left you happy and in a metaphorical head spin. How do you infuse your daily life with your newfound inspiration? How do you keep that excited sense of purpose and delightful exuberance when confronted by the same old dishes to wash, bills to pay and laundry to be folded?

As Voltaire said, we must cultivate our gardens. Like a beautiful garden, an amazing life filled with inspiration doesn’t just happen by chance (unless you’re a character in a Hollywood movie). We must create meaningful moments, chase down inspiring relationships and design our daily life to include moments of bliss and love.

First of all, if the opening paragraph of this piece struck you like an unfamiliar chord on a broken piano, it’s time to proactively put yourself into new situations that lend themselves to the creation of inspiration. The key word here is NEW. The monotony of daily life can drag your spirit down, even when you truly love what you do. Search for new situations and throw yourself into them, setting aside your ego to focus on what truly brings you joy.

If you’ve recently encountered inspiration in your life, take both hands and force your newfound joy into your daily routine. Take a moment to pinpoint what exactly is making your heart sing. What about your vacation really set you off? Was it the new surroundings, new people, new food or just the break from daily life that inspired you? If you met someone stimulating, what characteristics did they have that appealed to you? If you read a book that moved you, what thoughts and ideas in particular set your mind afloat? By understanding exactly what it was that inspired you, you can work to cultivate the same experiences in your daily life.

Once you’ve wrapped your head around the specifics of your newfound inspiration, write it down at the top of a sheet of paper, using as many sheets as you need for every experience. Now set aside some time to brainstorm ideas about how to find that inspiration again.

If you were thrilled by the new food you encountered on a trip up the California coast, you could take a seafood cooking lesson, read a book on coastal cuisine, try out a new recipe for clam chowder or hang up a new painting of shellfish stew in your kitchen.

If you read a book that inspired you with its call to carpe diem, you could brainstorm ways to enjoy the moment: dance for ten minutes, meditate, lay on the grass at the park, or stay in and finger paint.

If you were inspired by the new people you met on your last holiday, you could make a list of proactive measures to bring different people into your life: sign up for language classes, join a book club, head to the hills with a hiking group or try out those trapeze lessons you’ve been dreaming about.

Don’t edit your thoughts at all during this brainstorming session; let your mind flow and write down every single idea that pops into your brain – the weirder and wilder the better. Later you can toss out the bad ideas, and keep the good ones.

When you have a whole page of ideas for inspiring experiences written down, choose the most appealing one and add it to your to-do list. Make a promise to yourself to complete this action within the next week or month, and be sure to follow through – then pick your next great idea and do it again.

Experiencing an inspired daily life doesn’t just happen. However if you can harness the power of your brain to brainstorm and follow through, you’ll be on the path to greater motivation and joy.

Ever since the days of Socrates and the Greek philosophers that lauded the logical mind over everything else, humans have considered themselves as rational creatures.

We like to think that we consider all the facts and crucial information, make educated decisions and behave according to our personal value system and collection of empirical knowledge. We are rational animals that act in the best interests of our families, our communities and ourselves.

Ever since the days of Socrates and the Greek philosophers that lauded the logical mind over everything else, humans have considered themselves as rational creatures.

We like to think that we consider all the facts and crucial information, make educated decisions and behave according to our personal value system and collection of empirical knowledge. We are rational animals that act in the best interests of our families, our communities and ourselves.

Except, we don’t. Numerous studies have shown that while humans are able to use logic and reason thanks to a hearty prefrontal cortex that doesn’t exist in other animals, our actions are largely controlled by our more primitive emotional brain.

Your logical mind knows without a doubt that the slice of chocolate cake is full of sugar and devoid of nutrients; your emotional brain says “ME WANT NOW!” And because humans evolved in an environment where daily survival was much more important than long term health or longevity, our emotional brain often wins the fight.

What’s the modern human to do? Trick your brain and live happier. Realize that we are emotional creatures, subject to the whims of our feelings and easy swayed by the right words, colors, flavors and smells. Surround yourself with things that affect your emotional brain in the right way, and your logical brain will say: “I told you so!”

Change your computer passwords to an inspiring phrase.

Instead of a jumble of numbers and letters, choose a short phrase that will lift your spirits every time you type it, whether you realize it or not. Some media mantra ideas include keepyourchinup, successiscoming and hopesareup.

Print out the word success and tape it above your computer.

Better yet, print out a sheet of synonyms for success as well. Your emotional brain will appreciate the impact even when your logical brain is concerned with an overflowing box of emails.

Bored at work?

Use colored paper and pens to literally brighten your day. Having trouble meeting goals? A sticker chart, just like your kindergarten teacher had, can have amazing effects on achieving goals for adults as well as kids.

You wake up and feel lousy as hell.

You have two choices: stay in bed and call in sick, or trick your brain: get up anyway and push all notions of sickness out of your head. Continue your normal routine as usual and completely resist the urge to whine to your friends or coworkers about how you feel – in fact, see if there’s a way to make someone else’s day better. There’s a good chance that by the end of the day, you’ll forget that you though you were sick that morning. If not, go to the doctor. You’re sick.

Don’t be a maximizer.

We are inundated with a million choices in modern life, not only for cereal and toothpaste but also for jobs and mates, with dating profiles and job openings listed online like the shopping options at Amazon.com. Maximizers are people who still keep shopping even after they’ve found an awesome couch, just because they want to make sure – for sure for sure – that they have made the right decision. Stemming from self-doubt, this tendency can have disastrous effects when applied to decisions that shouldn’t be undone, like marriage and childbirth. Commit to your life-changing decision, and wipe all thoughts of what else you might be missing from your mind.

]]>http://www.organicauthority.com/health/trick-your-brain-and-live-happier.html/feed/08 Habits of Healthy People (Besides What They Eat!)http://www.organicauthority.com/health/keys-to-healthy-happy-life.html
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An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and it can also help keep the blues at a good distance, too. What we eat greatly impacts our moods and emotional health, as well as our overall well-being, but food is not the only factor. In fact, several critical non-food factors can greatly improve your health. Just ask a truly healthy person how much time they spend doing the following.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and it can also help keep the blues at a good distance, too. What we eat greatly impacts our moods and emotional health, as well as our overall well-being, but food is not the only factor. In fact, several critical non-food factors can greatly improve your health. Just ask a truly healthy person how much time they spend doing the following.

Laughter: We all know it’s the best medicine, but it’s also an effective preventative. Experts have found that a sense of humor and not taking one’s self too seriously can lead to a happier disposition and healthier constitution.

Face Fears: Anticipation is often much more frightening than whatever it is we think we fear. For those who push through fear and resistance and find the thing we thought was so scary wasn’t actually all that bad, happiness comes much easier than for those who are too stifled by fear, and so does health. Suppressed fear has been linked to a number of chronic and acute illnesses.

Don’t Take it Personally: don Miguel Ruiz’s best-selling book The Four Agreements sheds light on a very important key to happiness: not taking other people’s shit personally. When we stop worrying about other people’s trauma and drama (and somehow making it about us, too), we are lighter and healthier in the long run.

Adventure: Exploring the world keeps us on our toes. It makes us truly present, and more our true selves as we navigate new terrain. This can inspire us with nature’s grace and beauty, and also, breaking routine can keep our minds healthier and more active (and our bodies, too!).

Community: People who are active in a community are also more likely to be happy and healthy. When we feel connected and important to others, it can also boost our happiness and joy and our immunity. The same goes for a healthy relationship.

Hobbies: Creative expression is critical for human health happiness. And while many of us might not experience that in our jobs, having a hobby as an outlet for creativity can allow for a healthy release and keep us more balanced.

Pets: Scores of studies have shown that people who own pets live longer, happier and healthier lives. While poop patrol may seem to be a daunting and annoying task, the unconditional love and often silly behaviors intrinsic to our animal friends makes happiness come all too easily. And caring for another is one of the best things for our health.

Nature: We’ve only moved into these modern dense, polluted and chaotic cities in the last century. And what we’ve sacrificed—authentic time in nature—is making us less happy and less healthy. Research shows just five minutes in nature (1-2-3-4-5!) can show a markedly improved mood, improve brain function and strengthen immunity.

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a great holiday vacation. January always feels like a new beginning, and you've probably made some healthy goals for yourself in 2012. This week's From Our Friends is devoted to getting you started in the best way possible. Find out how to eat healthier, feel better, and what NOT to eat in the morning!

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a great holiday vacation. January always feels like a new beginning, and you’ve probably made some healthy goals for yourself in 2012. This week’s From Our Friends is devoted to getting you started in the best way possible. Find out how to eat healthier, feel better, and what NOT to eat in the morning!

1. Will taking Yoga make you more employable in the workplace? The Grindstone thinks so. Find out why!

2. If you’re like the rest of the world, you’ve vowed to eat healthier and get fit this year. A good place to start with that is to start getting more fiber in your diet. Take a look at EcoSalon’s ten surprising sources of fiber to see how easy it can be.

3. Speaking of getting healthy, bringing your own food to the office may be way healthier than deciding to eat out at lunch. Take it to the next green level by checking out MightyNest’s list of eco-friendly coffee mugs, water bottles and lunch gear.

4. Everyday activities take a toll on our bodies, tightening our muscles and limiting our range of motion in potentially painful ways. This simple stretch routine from Experience Life can help undo the damage.

5. Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so be careful to make sure you make it count! Don’t miss Rodale’s guide to the ten worst ways to start your day.

Here it is, the end of a banner year for Organic Authority. While we all are still very busy celebrating all of the wonderful things we've been able to be a part of in 2011, it's always important to look towards the future. As always, with the help of our friends around the web, we give to you 2011's last From Our Friends, dedicated soley to starting off the new year on the right foot. Thanks for reading this year everyone, we can't wait to show you what we have up our sleeves for the next one!

Here it is, the end of a banner year for Organic Authority. While we all are still very busy celebrating all of the wonderful things we’ve been able to be a part of in 2011, it’s always important to look towards the future. As always, with the help of our friends around the web, we give to you 2011’s last From Our Friends, dedicated soley to starting off the new year on the right foot. Thanks for reading this year everyone, we can’t wait to show you what we have up our sleeves for the next one!

1. How can we reach our goals? A leading expert on the art of achieving goals shares her best insider tips for success on Experience Life.

2. On New Year’s Day, you are what you eat. So make sure you’re filling up on food that will make you lucky, rich and happy in the New Year! Read more in this great post from Rodale.

3. Take a look at these 12 great analog calendars on EcoSalon for penciling in the new year.

4. Did you get some gadgets for the holidays? Fill them up with 5 health and fitness apps Blisstree says you NEED to have for the new year!

This week's edition of From Our Friends focuses on you! Well, your body and health that is. We included great articles about BPA and cancer treatment drugs, a complex network of tissue under your skin, the cities you live in, how being around more people can make you happier, and exactly how much libido is considered normal. Thanks for reading every week, we hope you enjoy the posts as much as we did! And of course, have a wonderful Halloween weekend!

This week’s edition of From Our Friends focuses on you! Well, your body and health that is. We included great articles about BPA and cancer treatment drugs, a complex network of tissue under your skin, the cities you live in, how being around more people can make you happier, and exactly how much libido is considered normal. Thanks for reading every week, we hope you enjoy the posts as much as we did! And of course, have a wonderful Halloween weekend!

1. According to MightyNest, a new study revealed that BPA and Methylparaben block cancer treatment drugs.

2. Just beneath your skin lies a complex network of connective tissue called fascia. It helps you move well, stand straight and play hard. Experience Life is posting that keeping it healthy might be one of the fastest—and most overlooked—ways to improve your health and fitness.

3. Hard economic times be damned: Ecosalon has a great article on ten US cities that make their own green.

4. Do you live with roommates? Alternet has an interesting post about one woman who found that living with others was good for her wallet, her health, and her happiness.

5. In another great installment as part of their Sex (Re)Ed. week, Blisstree answers just how much libido is normal, anyway.

October is in full swing! Fall is on its way and Halloween plans are getting made. This week's From Our Friends includes articles on Halloween makeup, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ditching big oil, a great app from Experience Life, and more! Grab your freshly made Organic pumpkin spice latte and enjoy some of our favorite articles from the past week!

October is in full swing! Fall is on its way and Halloween plans are getting made. This week’s From Our Friends includes articles on Halloween makeup, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ditching big oil, a great app from Experience Life, and more! Grab your freshly made organic pumpkin spice latte and enjoy some of our favorite articles from the past week!

1. Ready for your daily dose of health and happiness? Experience Life has introduced their “101 Ways” mobile app for the iPad and iPhone. It’s a daily dose of health and happiness, delivered in an enticing, interactive package that appeals to all kinds: men and women, young and old, health-motivated and health-seeking.

2. Halloween is on it’s way! Ditch the face paints full of scary metals and check out the alternative solutions MightyNest has to offer!

3. In continuance with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Blisstree has an inspiring interview with a breast cancer survivor that you need to read.

4. “It’s time to ditch big oil,” says Alternet. “We Can Create Jobs While Protecting Public Health and the Environment.”

As someone who is deeply involved in the world of technology, as well as someone who has owned an Apple computer since the early 90s, the news of Steve Jobs passing this week brought up a lot of feelings, mainly about mortality, life and the incredible ways we as a human race are able to communicate with each other. That said, the articles in this week's From Our Friends reflect some of those emotions, including posts about meditation, cancer, happiness, sustainability and, of course, a wonderfully innovative tribute to the man himself.

As someone who is deeply involved in the world of technology, as well as someone who has owned an Apple computer since the early 90s, the news of Steve Jobs passing this week brought up a lot of feelings, mainly about mortality, life and the incredible ways we as a human race are able to communicate with each other. That said, the articles in this week’s From Our Friends reflect some of those emotions, including posts about meditation, cancer, happiness, sustainability and, of course, a wonderfully innovative tribute to the man himself.

1. Experience Life shares some of the big ideas mindfulness pioneer Jon Kabat-Zinn shared in his book about bringing meditation down to earth.

2. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and MightyNest has posted a great article about the environmental causes of breast cancer.

3. One Tokyo runner paid quite an amazing tribute to Steve Jobs the best way he could. Check out the amazing image on BlissTree.

From time to time we can all use a pick-me-up. That's life, right? Up, down and all around. Luckily, even the smallest of things can make all the difference. Just taking some time out to give yourself a little me time and things might be bouncing back quickly. So, we've collected together a roundup of ten ways you can change your life - or at least feel better - because there's no time like the present!

From time to time we can all use a pick-me-up. That’s life, right? Up, down and all around. Luckily, even the smallest of things can make all the difference for your happiness. Just taking some time out to give yourself a little me time and things might be bouncing back quickly. So, we’ve collected together a roundup of ten ways you can change your life – or at least feel better – because there’s no time like the present!

Deep breathing may sound a little too simple, but in actuality the basic act can help to give your body a much needed detox. The more oxygen you breathe in the better your body will be at absorbing vitamins and nutrients, meaning your lympathic system is ready and raring to go!

If you find deep breathing works for you, then you might want to read a little further into the art of pranayama, a form of disciplined breath control which has all kinds of benefits for the mind as well as the body.

2. Smash up an avocado for better hair and skin

Avocados aren’t just useful for guacamole recipes, but can also be mashed up to create a smooth and creamy treat for your skin and hair. The oils in avocados have nourishing and moisturising properties that’ll do just as good a job as those luxurious store bought cosmetics.

3. Dust off your old bicycle

A lot of people own bicycles but quickly get out of the habit of using them. Dust off your bicycle today and get outside! Not only will you be able to see the world around you in a different way, cycling is a cheap and exciting form of exercise.

4. Plant something indoors

It’s very fulfilling to watch something you’ve planted grow, so why not expand your garden indoors with a few herbs or vegetable plants. By planting them indoors there’s less chance they’ll get forgotten and they’ll also act as summery pops of vibrant green hues in your kitchen.

5. Crush up a strawberry to whiten your teeth

Small changes to the way we look can really alter our mood, so why not whip up this quick and simple whitening toothpaste recipe with one strawberry and some baking soda?

6. Treat yourself to mojito cupcakes

We should all endeavour to eat healthily, but there needs to be some fun and self indulgence from time to time, so make yourself a batch of these delicious yet quirky vegan mojito cupcakes as an afternoon snack.

Those lucky individuals that have perfected the art of meditation swear by its stress relieving properties and the way it puts both your body and mind at ease. Even if you can’t dedicate much time to it, start by simply stopping and having a quiet look inside instead of panicking about everything else around you.

8. Have some fun with cocktails

We’d never suggest that alcohol is an answer to your problems, but after a long week sometimes an ice cold drink is the only thing that really hits the spot! Not only do cocktails taste great, they’re really fun to make and you can be picky about your ingredients to make sure they’re extra special and worth it. Give these garden cocktails a swish!

As more and more people invest in the latest fancy smart phones, both developers and brands are creating even more applications to cater to all aspects of our lives. Unsurprisingly, apps focused on improving our eating habits and lifestyle are hugely popular, so take a look at our picks of the apps that leave you with no excuse but to treat your body well.

Coffee in modertaion is a great way to put a spring back into your step and lift the spirits. Make yourself a super super creamy latte in a fancy glass instead of just going through the motions and sloshing your regular brew into an old mug. We guarantee it’ll look and taste much better.

Don’t you feel better already from just fantasizing about one of the above treats?

Doesn't lounging around in a hammock while gazing for hours on end at the dreamy turquoise-painted ocean of an unspoiled tropical island soundrealllllly good right about now (especially with an ever-replenished beverage in hand)? It's the kind of half-daydream, half-goal that helps so many of us get through what often seems like a never ending work week, and while it's hard to deny the restorative power of pure, unadulterated relaxation, there's a new kind of vacation that's making seriously notable waves -- voluntourism.

Doesn’t lounging around in a hammock while gazing for hours on end at the dreamy turquoise-painted ocean of an unspoiled tropical island sound realllllly good right about now (especially with an ever-replenished beverage in hand)? It’s the kind of half-daydream, half-goal that helps so many of us get through what often seems like a never ending work week, and while it’s hard to deny the restorative power of pure, unadulterated relaxation, there’s a new kind of vacation that’s making seriously notable waves — voluntourism.

Unlike the kick-back-and-chill vibe that we happily embrace while touring the theme parks and exotic locales of traditional summer vacation destinations, voluntourism entails using precious vacation time – which for some lucky people comes once a year, for others just a few times in the span of a decade – to help others. Sounds lovely in theory, but when push comes to shove, how many of us would willingly jump on that karmically-divine train when we could just unplug from the reality of our daily grind at a luxury resort? (Remarkably, 1.6 million individuals do every single year!)

Voluntourism is about giving back to fellow human beings and/or the environment for a relatively brief but nevertheless beneficial chunk of time. Sometimes, the incredibly busy pace that we maintain day in and day out taxes us to such a degree that we fail to realize that donating even just one or two hours a week to a charitable endeavor can spread sunshine — not just literally and figuratively but also emotionally and chemically. In fact, multiple studies have attributed altruistic behavior to a deeper sense of inner contentment and overall health along with higher levels of feel-good endorphins, naturally-occuring dopamine and a noticable reduction in blood pressure levels.

Beyond the physical benefit of engaging in a volunteer-themed getaway, there’s something to be said for diving head first into a purposeful and incredibly fulfilling, not to mention life-altering, experience that indulges our sense of wanderlust as well as our desire to make a positive impact. Really, it’s all about the inner sense of joy that you can get from doing something for others with no strings attached… and a cool ‘side effect’ is that it boosts your well being, too... kind of sells itself, doesn’t it?

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Depending on the organization that you arrange your voluntourism opportunity through (such as a non-profit or a travel agent), your getaway can be as affordable as the cost of a roundtrip international flight or as indulgent as a 5 star hotel stay. EarthBound Expeditions charges between $200 and $500 for ground transportation, accommodations and food, applying part of the money toward programs that benefit local communities, whereas other opportunities typically carry a sticker price of roughly $1000 per week. The very best thing you can do is conduct thorough research well in advance and weigh all your options accordingly.

WHY SHOULD I DO IT?

Have you ever had a fleeting or even recurring desire to experience fulfillment at a deeper level, not only in your career and personal relationships, but also while participating in extracurricular activities? Donating your time while being submersed in a foreign culture can teach you a great deal about yourself and the world, but more importantly, it can often trigger a deeper awareness of the intangible yet weighty things that really make life worth living. It doesn’t hurt that you’re doing so while soaking up the sights and sounds of a far-off place just like a real adventurer would.

WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES EXIST?

Protect Earth, Protect Yourself (PEPY) organizes bike trips through Laos and Cambodia, allowing participants to assist in such diverse projects as animal husbandry and aquaculture while I To I Volunteering facilitates global wildlife conservation projects. Or, you might prefer volunteering with the National Park Service, building homes for the less fortunate through Habitat For Humanity’s Global Village experience or chaperoning developmentally challenged adults while they explore the U.S. via Sprout, Inc.’s leadership opportunity. The domestic and international programs are as incredibly diverse as the crystallized structure of newly-formed snowflakes, so seek and ye shall find!

HOW DO I GET THE BALL ROLLING?

Wading through the voluntourism white noise is a lot easier when you focus on the most reliable organizations of the bunch, such as VolunTourism International, One Brick, Global Volunteers, Go Differently or North by North East Tours, for starters. Do your homework, take notes, compare opportunities and never be afraid to ask questions. Working with a non-profit organization such as Planterra is quite possibly the wisest move since charities are typically compelled to make a difference for the greater good rather than for the most substantial profit. Above all, throw yourself into the experience head first and just watch — you’ll have so much fun that you might just tweet your heart out, or at least shout it from the highest rooftop!

It's safe to say we spend a good portion of our work week running around the web, so it's inevitable that we'll come across some articles that we just love. Fortunately for our great readers, we post our favorites every week here so you all can enjoy them, too! This week, we have stories about managing your energy, hydrofracking, electric cars, new periodic table elements and even how much we should scare our kids! It's definitely a versatile bunch, but should make for some great reading before your weekend begins. Enjoy, and we'll see you next week!

It’s safe to say we spend a good portion of our work week running around the web, so it’s inevitable that we’ll come across some articles that we just love. Fortunately for our great readers, we post our favorites every week here so you all can enjoy them, too! This week, we have stories about managing your energy, hydrofracking, electric cars, new periodic table elements and even how much we should scare our kids! It’s definitely a versatile bunch, but should make for some great reading before your weekend begins. Enjoy, and we’ll see you next week!

Self-help is a big business in this country, and every bookstore holds a thousand guides that claim to know the secret steps that life requires in order to deliver a state of contented perfection. However, you don’t have to know any secrets to be happy; just take some common sense steps to infuse your life with joyful moments, which will soon become part of who you are.

Aphorisms are often tuned out because we have heard them all before, and people tend to just spit them out like platitudes when they can’t think of anything else to say. However, there is truth behind each cliché, aka, common sense happiness

Self-help is a big business in this country, and every bookstore holds a thousand guides that claim to know the secret steps that life requires in order to deliver a state of contented perfection. However, you don’t have to know any secrets to be happy; just take some common sense steps to infuse your life with joyful moments, which will soon become part of who you are.

Aphorisms are often tuned out because we have heard them all before, and people tend to just spit them out like platitudes when they can’t think of anything else to say. However, there is truth behind each cliché, aka, common sense happiness

See the world through rose-colored glasses. Maybe you don’t want hot pink lenses, but make sure the tinting on your gray or brown shades has a slight pink tone to it. Life will look warmer and more beautiful to you with them on; sunsets will be richer, mountains will be redder and faces will look more alive.

Stop to smell the roses. Whenever you pass a rose, whether wild roses in a bush near the beach, cut roses in an arrangement in a hotel lobby or stacks of dozens in the discount store, stop. Smell them. Look at their beauty, and feel their soft petals. Walk away a little lighter.

Look on the bright side. Sunshine has a potent power to make you happy. When walking down the street, choosing a table at a restaurant or finding a chair at the party, find the bright side and put yourself in it. The sunshine will lift your spirits and the warmth will make you feel warmer inside. Don’t just look on the bright side, live on it too.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Lemons on sale at the grocery store? Buy a bag, and make fresh lemonade: Juice them, removing the seeds and add fresh water, sugar and ice until the mix is perfect. Enjoy, or even better, take a jug and some cups to a group of people working outside and share the sunshine.

Laugh at yourself. Out loud, and often. Catch yourself preening a little too hard in the mirror? Spill an entire cup of coffee all over your desk? Some jerk stole your parking spot while you were daydreaming? Laugh at yourself and at life – out loud. Laughter is powerful and can turn potentially ugly situations into the lighter side of life.

Go to your happy place. You probably have a “happy place” that you zone out and enjoy visiting mentally during stressful tests or boring office meetings. Perhaps it’s the beach, an undiscovered forest cave, the dance floor at a party or around a big dinner table with friends. Whatever your happy place is, make sure you also visit it in real life too, in order to feed your imagination and refuel your spirit.

Count your blessings. Get a piece of paper, number the front side and start writing down all the things you have to be thankful for in life, from healthy vision to a roof over your head to killer eyelashes to the color green. Once you fill the front page up, flip it over and keep going. Add pages and add to the list every day to remind yourself that despite your problems, you actually have it pretty good in this world.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Rained in on a yucky, dreary day that you would rather be outside? Look up at the clouds, and try to find that silver lining. It is beautiful, and this slice of sparkling sky would not exist if it never rained. Every time you see rain clouds in the sky, search for this silver lining, and soon you will be doing the same in other areas of your life as well.

Let go. Often we are holding on to negative thoughts from past situations because despite the fact that they are unhealthy, those thoughts still provide a connection to something you once loved… a boy, a place or a job. What are you holding on to? Literally let it go. Find physical remnants of the situation you need to let go of, and get rid of them. Burn love notes, trash relics from an old job and recycle anything else that used to work in your life but no longer does. Let go, and you will feel physically lighter.

Chin up. Hold your head up when you wander this earth. No need to be snobby, but walking around with your head down and gaze lowered not only signals to the world that you are slightly depressed and a person to be avoided, but it also makes you feel worse about yourself. So chin up! Things are never as bad as they seem, and you can be happy – it’s common sense.

While we take great pride in our articles about healthy organic living, we always feel it's necessary to share some of our friends' articles as well. This allows you to have an even broader scope of healthy and important information within your grasp. This week includes articles about how air pollution might be giving people heart attacks, as well as some great information on Eating Disorders Awareness Week! Must keep our foodies healthy! Enjoy.

While we take great pride in our articles about healthy organic living, we always feel it’s necessary to share some of our friends’ articles as well. This allows you to have an even broader scope of healthy and important information within your grasp. This week includes articles about how air pollution might be giving people heart attacks, as well as some great information on Eating Disorders Awareness Week! Must keep our foodies healthy! Enjoy.